The sky was so blue today, so pretty and so clean. Nothing to be seen in the heavens till a wake of buzzards came to ride the wind currents. Penelope watched the buzzards’ shadows as they sailed across the sidewalks, the houses and the wall across the street. She was intrigued. The buzzards are magnificent in flight, their large wings undulating and capturing the wind, their feet tucked tight and symmetrical against their bodies. When the sun hits just right you can see their beautiful silver tipped wing feathers. The feathers look like fingers to me, making me remember putting my hand out the car window as a child, my hand riding the wind like a wave. Actually, I still do that occasionally. I counted 12 buzzards. I watched them till my neck hurt. Next time I looked upward they were gone. Couldn’t help but wonder if they were so high I could not see them or did they just leave my neighborhood. They’ll be back.

Found this quote about buzzards by William Faulkner. Chief would love this quote. “If I were reincarnated, I’d want to come back a buzzard. Nothing hates him or envies him or wants him or needs him. He is never bothered or in danger, and he can eat anything.” Love it but don’t want to eat what buzzards eat! Faulkner really has some great quotes. Chief’s favorite was, “A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of kicking you once.” Ha, Ha! Reminded him of that one time when he borrowed a neighbor’s mule to plow our garden.

Watched the sunset out the lady den windows this afternoon. The sun was hurling down the horizon like a silver ball bearing, spitting off incandescent red sparks where she touched the horizon, lighting a beautiful watermelon camp fire that burst into a apricot crush of color that softly blazed till the night sky dipped down and put out the flames. Father Sky quickly kissed the sun goodnight and went to wake the moon and stars and paste them on the black velvet of the night sky. He woke a clear, crisp night and bedded down a wondrous day. Twenty-nine days till Spring!

One of my friends sent me this quote this morning. “It is better to be loved than admired. It is better to be truly known and seen and taken care of by a small tribe than adored by strangers who think they know you in a meaningful way.” — Shauna Niequist

I looked up the definition of admire — regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval, look at with pleasure. Then I looked up the definition of love — an intense feeling of deep affection, a great interest and pleasure in something. Never realized today that you can admire something you don’t love, never really thought about that. Now I’m trying to figure out the difference between the two. Love and admiration go together but you don’t have to love someone to admire them. I think we admire traits in the people we love, admire how they travel through life, how they handle the storm clouds, how their faith impacts their lives.

I was thinking about this quote while talking on the phone with my dearest friend this afternoon. No one knows me as well as she does. She sees me as I am. She truly knows me, loves me, and takes care of me. I love her, depend on her, and I admire her. I have a small tribe in my family who love me and rush to my side if I need them. And I love them.

Sometimes the love we feel for each other can diminish or even go away but God’s love is enduring and unselfishly centered on giving. I think God sees us as we truly are. He loves us, warts and all. He listens to us when we pray. He’s steadfast with his love and support, always ready to help carry our burdens. God’s love is forever, never any indecision. There is no mistake too great to fracture the love he has for us. He is “a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love,” —Nehemiah 9:17.

“Trust God’s love. His perfect love. Don’t fear He will discover your past. He already has. Don’t fear disappointing Him in the future. He can show you the chapter in which you will. With perfect knowledge of the past and perfect vision of the future, He loves you perfectly in spite of both.” — Max Lucado